Activity Overview
In this activity, students will identify cause and effect relationships by answering the some of the following or similar questions:
- What effects did the drought cause?
- What happened because there was a drought?
- What did people do because there was a drought?
- What changes happened?
Students will create a grid storyboard to organize their thoughts on the numerous impacts of the drought on the environment and community. See the storyboard above for an example. Students can also create a T-Chart for writing the causes and effects.
Cause
Severe drought in Kenya.
Effects
- “The East African nation's grasslands are dried out. Bare, leafless trees dot the landscape. Watering holes are almost dry.”
- "The drought has caused cattle to die and crops to shrivel. This year's grain harvest is expected to be 28% less than last year's."
- "Food prices have risen by as much as 130%."
- “The WFP is working to keep kids in school, where it provides them with nutritious meals."
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that shows cause and effect relationships in "Kenya’s Long Dry Season". Each cause and effect pair will be shown in the same row.
- On the left side of the T-Chart, illustrate events that show cause (why).
- On the right side of the T-Chart, illustrate events that are the direct effect of that cause.
- Write a description below each cause.
- In the description under each effect, show how the cause and effect are related.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cause | All events on the left side of the T-Chart are correctly identified as causes. These events are why something else happened. | Most events on the left side of the T-Chart are correctly identified as causes or why something else happened. | Few or no events on the left side of the T-Chart are correctly identified as causes or why something else happened. |
| Effect | All events on the right side of the T-Chart are correctly identified as effects. These events are direct results of something else. | Most events on the right side of the T-Chart are correctly identified as effects or direct results of something else. | Few or no events on the right side of the T-Chart are correctly identified as effects or direct results of something else. |
| Images | Images clearly show the events in the story that have been identified as causes and effects. | Images show events from the story, but not all images match the cause and effect events. | Images do not represent the story or are missing. |
| Cause and Effect Relationship | All rows correctly show cause events in the story having a direct effect on the effect events. | Most rows correctly show cause events in the story having a direct effect on the effect events. | Few or no rows correctly show cause events in the story having a direct effect on the effect events. |
Activity Overview
In this activity, students will identify cause and effect relationships by answering the some of the following or similar questions:
- What effects did the drought cause?
- What happened because there was a drought?
- What did people do because there was a drought?
- What changes happened?
Students will create a grid storyboard to organize their thoughts on the numerous impacts of the drought on the environment and community. See the storyboard above for an example. Students can also create a T-Chart for writing the causes and effects.
Cause
Severe drought in Kenya.
Effects
- “The East African nation's grasslands are dried out. Bare, leafless trees dot the landscape. Watering holes are almost dry.”
- "The drought has caused cattle to die and crops to shrivel. This year's grain harvest is expected to be 28% less than last year's."
- "Food prices have risen by as much as 130%."
- “The WFP is working to keep kids in school, where it provides them with nutritious meals."
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that shows cause and effect relationships in "Kenya’s Long Dry Season". Each cause and effect pair will be shown in the same row.
- On the left side of the T-Chart, illustrate events that show cause (why).
- On the right side of the T-Chart, illustrate events that are the direct effect of that cause.
- Write a description below each cause.
- In the description under each effect, show how the cause and effect are related.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cause | All events on the left side of the T-Chart are correctly identified as causes. These events are why something else happened. | Most events on the left side of the T-Chart are correctly identified as causes or why something else happened. | Few or no events on the left side of the T-Chart are correctly identified as causes or why something else happened. |
| Effect | All events on the right side of the T-Chart are correctly identified as effects. These events are direct results of something else. | Most events on the right side of the T-Chart are correctly identified as effects or direct results of something else. | Few or no events on the right side of the T-Chart are correctly identified as effects or direct results of something else. |
| Images | Images clearly show the events in the story that have been identified as causes and effects. | Images show events from the story, but not all images match the cause and effect events. | Images do not represent the story or are missing. |
| Cause and Effect Relationship | All rows correctly show cause events in the story having a direct effect on the effect events. | Most rows correctly show cause events in the story having a direct effect on the effect events. | Few or no rows correctly show cause events in the story having a direct effect on the effect events. |
How Tos about Cause and Effect in \"Kenya’s Long Dry Season\"
Integrate cause and effect mapping into a class discussion
Encourage students to verbally identify causes and effects during a class conversation. This helps students practice critical thinking and connect ideas in real time.
Use anchor charts to reinforce cause and effect concepts
Create a visual anchor chart that displays key cause and effect examples from the story. Refer back to this chart during other lessons to strengthen understanding.
Incorporate real-world examples related to drought
Share current news stories or local examples of drought. Ask students to identify causes and effects from these examples, making learning relevant and meaningful.
Differentiate instruction using leveled cause and effect tasks
Assign tasks with varied complexity based on student readiness. Offer sentence stems or graphic organizers for extra support, and challenge advanced students to find multiple effects for each cause.
Assess understanding with quick exit tickets
Have students write one cause and one effect from the story on a sticky note before leaving class. Review these to check comprehension and guide future instruction.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cause and Effect in \"Kenya’s Long Dry Season\"
What is the main cause and effect in 'Kenya’s Long Dry Season'?
The main cause in 'Kenya’s Long Dry Season' is the severe drought, which leads to effects like dying cattle, shriveling crops, rising food prices, and hardships for communities that depend on agriculture and livestock.
How can students identify cause and effect relationships in this story?
Students can identify cause and effect relationships by looking for events that answer questions like What happened because of the drought? and What did people do in response? Using a T-Chart or storyboard helps organize these pairs visually.
What are some examples of effects caused by the drought in Kenya?
Examples of effects from the drought include dry grasslands, leafless trees, nearly empty watering holes, cattle deaths, shrinking grain harvests, and a 130% rise in food prices.
What is the best way for students to organize cause and effect pairs from the text?
The best way is to use a grid storyboard or a T-Chart. The left side lists causes (why), and the right side lists effects (what happened), with a brief description under each to explain the relationship.
How does the drought impact Kenyan communities and schools?
The drought impacts communities by reducing food supply, raising prices, and threatening livelihoods. Schools are affected as organizations like the WFP help keep kids in school by providing meals to support nutrition during tough times.
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Kenya’s Long Dry Season
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